Mary Kay TimeWise Even Complexion Essence
The Mary Kay TimeWise Even Complexion Essence is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 52 ingredients (42 low-risk) rates it Excellent (90/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Mary Kay TimeWise Even Complexion Essence is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 52 ingredients (42 low-risk) rates it Excellent (90/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Isododecane
(Fragrance, Solvent, Emollient, Perfuming) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Ascorbyl Glucoside
(Antioxidant) |
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Triethanolamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
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1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
(Skin Conditioning, Sufactant) |
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Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
(Astringent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Panax Ginseng Root Extract
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic) |
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Thymus Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
(Cleansing, Refreshing, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
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Morus Alba Bark Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Seed Extract | |
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Serine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Threonine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Waving Or Straightening) |
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Proline
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Glycine
(Buffering Agent, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Alanine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Lysine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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Glutamic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent) |
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Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
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Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Laureth-7
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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C13-14 Isoparaffin
(Emollient, Solvent) |
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PEG-12 Dimethicone
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Polyacrylamide
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Antistatic Agent, Binding) |
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Boron Nitride
(Slip Modifier, Absorbent, Opacifying, Skin Conditioning) |
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Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Citrate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Chelating, Masking) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Methylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Ethylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Propylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Perfuming) |
Paraben
|
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Butylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Masking) |
Paraben
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Isobutylparaben
(Preservative) |
Paraben
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Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
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Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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